WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
"Winnie, we wouldn't be offering you this position if we didn't think you could do it."
Winifred Denise Douglas winced at the use of the nickname she hated. She blamed her parents for that. Sure, naming her after her grandmothers had been touching, and the nickname may have been cute for as long as she was in grade school--and even that felt like too long. But, no, it had to continue on into her adult life, too. Much to her relief, her friends had shortened her nickname to Winn back in middle school and she'd grown so accustomed to it that she now corrected everyone she met. Or simply introduced herself as Winn. Never Winnie. Never Winifred. Just Winn.
Too bad her employers preferred to call her what was printed out on her name plate.
"I understand this is a big deal for you," her district supervisor continued as she glanced at the state's VPO. "But it's also quite an opportunity for you, as well. We've watched you grow in this office for nearly ten years. You're the best in my district and, frankly, I would hate to see you go, but I can't let you miss out on this."
"Tulsa isn't so far away," the VPO said. "Just over the state line, at best."
"Six hours," Winn corrected.
"A plane ride."
"Tickets are expensive these days."
"You'll be getting a raise. And bonuses--"
"Provided I can get this office off the ground in long enough to make it home for the holidays. In six hours. Or a plane ride."
"Yes," the VPO said. "That office is in poor condition. But I believe you have what it takes to get it up and running again. Both of us do. And we wouldn't be sitting here with you if we didn't."
"But what happens if I don't? What happens if I fail miserably? Do I get stuck in Oklahoma? After I've uprooted my life and relocated?"
"Winnie, you work in the best office in the best district in the entire southwest region. You can do this," her supervisor said.
Winn let out a breath and looked at the man and woman in front of her.
"The company pays for your relocation," the VPO said. "From what I understand, Tulsa is a great area. You'll have your move paid for, you'll get a raise, your own office--you didn't want to be an assistant for the rest of your life, did you?"
Sadly, he had a point. Winn shook her head. "No."
"You're not married, you don't have any children. So what's stopping you? You've seen the salary figures. You've seen the numbers in the office--standards aren't unattainable in there. It just needs to be run by someone who knows what they're doing. And that someone is you."
******************
Early October was chillier in Tulsa than Winn had expected. It was too bad that she didn't actually have time to even focus on the weather. The new office was more of a nightmare than she thought it would be. Not only did they uproot and relocate her--oh, no. They'd also moved the entire office. Completely relocated the whole thing. Right before the company's "growth" season, they'd moved it from tucked into downtown to directly across the street from 3CG Records.
Winn knew her life was over.
Her bosses had relocated her because they knew she could do the job. What they DIDN'T know, however, was that this was like dangling a mouse in front of a lion's mouth--like dangling a toy in front of a cat's face and telling it it can't play with it. Or whatever other creative analogies she could come up with. Fate had dealt her a hand that sent her nerves soaring day after day.
She'd kept her composure when she found out the office's new location. It was bad enough she was relocating to Tulsa in the first place. Before making her big move, she'd squatted in the driveway at her old house in Abilene, Texas, feverishly scraping off her I Heart Hanson sticker off of her bumper, along with all the other Hanson-related decals that covered it. She didn't want to drive into Tulsa, letting people know she was one of the crazies. If she even had time to build up any type of reputation, that wouldn't be a good way to start.
Chasing was the worst so far. When you worked for a finance company that collected its own money, sometimes you had to pay the past due customers a personal visit at their homes. Unfortunately there were so many at this point, that she had to use her time creatively, darting out of the office whenever she could get the chance. Because her car was parked in the side alley, and it was quicker to get to it through the front door, her heart pounded every time she stepped outside. It had been three weeks now, since she'd relocated and settled in the new office, and she had yet to have a Hanson sighting. Surprisingly, she was grateful for that. Work was too busy and too hectic for such a distraction. It didn't help that the huge windows at the front of the office provided the most perfect of views from every desk in the office. Maybe they got in and out through their back door. Maybe that's what she ultimately should be doing, herself.
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Taylor Hanson had been watching her go in and out of that new place for the past several weeks. First Class Finance. Why in the hell would anyone put a finance company in the Brady Arts District? And why the hell did she look so familiar?
Then again, after awhile, everyone started to look familiar.
Either way, he and his brothers had been perplexed since it moved there, as to why a business like that would be put RIGHT THERE. It didn't make any sense. It was a district lined in coffee shops and restaurants and--well, hipsters, ultimately. Did Tulsa think hipsters needed more money now or something? "Here, if you want to shop in our store, go get a loan at First Class Finance. No problem." It was kind of ridiculous.
However, Taylor had stopped caring about the why's and how's the first time he'd seen her step outside that office door.
He'd watched her come back and forth all day, every day. Even sometimes on Saturdays. He watched her walk down the street, presumably for lunch, at the same time every day, never being gone long. Sadly, he was beginning to learn her routine and he didn't even know who she was.
And then he sat there one day and he thought about it. He'd been watching this woman for weeks--what the hell was he just sitting there for? Why wasn't he across the street introducing himself? What was he, some kind of peeping tom? No.
Before he could stop himself, he found himself walking across the street one late October afternoon. Halloween was approaching and the air just kept getting chillier in the evenings. Pulling his jacket a little closer around him, he stepped onto the curb and reached for the office door handle.
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Winn nearly fumbled the voicemail she was leaving when she witnessed Taylor Hanson walking in the door of her office. What in the hell could he possibly be doing there? They were a small lending company and he certainly didn't need money. Displaying the best customer service she could, knowing that there was really nothing she could do for him, she gave him a tight-lipped smile, greeted him, and then let the CSR handle the rest. Inside, Winn was dying and she could feel her hands shaking as she typed on her computer, struggling to keep her focus on her screen.
However, her ears remained open as she moved on to her next phone call. "Hi," she heard him say to Tina, the CSR. "I saw that you guys have been over here for a couple weeks now and I just wanted to stop by and meet you guys. You know, since we're neighbors now."
Difficult as it was, Winn resisted the urge to look up as she left another voicemail and moved on to the next phone call. "Well. Didn't realize you were Tulsa's official welcoming committee," Tina flirted at him.
In spite of herself, Winn shot daggers into her from across the room as she glanced at her.
"I wouldn't exactly say that," Taylor said. "We just like to get to know everyone around here, that's all."
"We?" Tina pressed.
"It's just me today," he responded.
The two assistant managers were out chasing and that only left Winn and Tina in the office by themselves. Winn knew that she couldn't stave off from talking to Taylor for long and, unfortunately, the time came quicker than she expected after he'd exchanged introductions with Tina.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him approach her desk cautiously and she finished the voicemail she was leaving and hung the phone up in defeat. He smiled at her, her heart fluttering a million miles away. "Hi," he said. "So you're the manager, huh?"
She smiled as best she could without completely fangirling. "That's me."
He studied her name plate for a moment. "Uh, Winnie, is it?"
She scowled as she went back to her computer. "Just Winn. I hate Winnie."
Much to her dismay, he took it upon himself to have a seat at her desk in one of the chairs meant for customers. He hadn't sat at Tina's desk. Why the hell was he sitting now? "There's nothing wrong with Winnie," he said. "It's nice."
"You haven't lived with it for thirty years."
"What's it short for? Winifred?"
She didn't realize she was glaring at him until he smiled at her again. "It is, isn't it?"
"Just forget you even know that."
"Too late now."
Sighing, and anxious to get back to work, she said to him, "I appreciate you coming by, but I have a lot of work to get done--"
"Are you from Tulsa?" He asked, seemingly ignoring her attempt to get rid of him.
Shaken up by his interruption, she stuttered a little. "Uh, ye--no--uh, no. No, I've only been here for a few weeks."
"Really. What brings you here?"
"Relocated for work. Got a promotion. Here I am."
He nodded, understanding, as he fiddled with the business cards on her desk, subsequently shoving one into his jacket pocket. "Where did you relocate from?"
"Did you ask Tina all these questions?"
Taylor smiled sheepishly, her words obviously stinging him a little. "No. No, I didn't. Perhaps I should--"
"I don't need my CSR distracted," she said suddenly, remembering the way Tina had flirted with him. Why she felt possessive all of a sudden, she had no idea. "I'm from Texas. Abilene. This office needed fresh blood and I got relocated. My office was the best in my district and my district is the best in our region. I intend to do the same with this one. It's going to take long hours, hard work, and one hundred percent, full dedication, but it's going to happen."
Taylor was silent as he listened to her and then he smiled across the desk. "So you're gonna be a busy woman."
"I am a busy woman. I stay a busy woman."
He nodded. "I like that."
Winn thought she might throw up.
Taylor looked toward the front door then back at her. "So I noticed you're a member of the Chamber."
"Not my doing. We're a corporation, I just display whatever they tell me to display."
"You ever go to any meetings?"
"No. No time. No point, really."
"Hm," he said in thought. "Well, I go to the meetings."
"That's nice for you."
"Maybe one of these days you'll decide to go and I'll see you there."
"Don't count on it. Too much to do here."
Finally, Taylor let out a breath and he nodded. "Okay. I get it. I'll get out of your hair, I know you have a lot of work to do. I'll, uh, I'll just be across the street..." As he stood up to leave, he turned back to her desk. "Hey, I never formally introduced myself--"
"I know who you are," she said, her eyes darting firmly into his.
He narrowed his eyes at her and turned completely around to face her. "Don't I know you?"
Finally, she sighed and she gave in, turning in her chair and resting her arms on the desk. "I came to Hanson Day back in May." She pointed out the window and across the street. "Right over there, you collided into me and caused me to spill my coffee all over the both of us. Most humiliating day of my life."
Suddenly, Taylor's face lit up and he smiled. "Oh my god, you're right! I knew you looked familiar. Look, I'm so sorry about that morning. I think I still owe you coffee, don't I?"
She shook her head. "Don't even worry about it. It's done and over with. You're forgiven."
He blushed and ran a hand through his hair. "Well, uh, thanks. I guess. I'm gonna be going now. You ladies have a good rest of the day, okay?"
With that, Taylor Hanson walked out of her office.
Winn wanted to fall out into the floor.
Abruptly, Tina spun around in her desk chair and tore the headset off her head. "Winn! What the hell was that?"
Winn looked across the room at her in alarm. "What the hell was what?"
"He LIKES you!" She hissed.
Winn lifted her head defiantly and picked up her phone again. "He doesn't like me, he's just being nice. Besides if he liked me, he would have asked for my number and asked me OUT for that coffee that he owes me."
"Are you crazy? What part of 'I still owe you coffee' was so difficult to understand? He DID ask you out! And you ignored it!"
Winn scrunched up her nose in guilt. "He didn't--I mean, I didn't--"
"Winn, I know you're new here. But you can't go home alone every single night and live just to come to work the next day. This office needs help. And you're doing a great job and we all appreciate you being here. But when you leave this office, you need to get out. Explore. Get to know the city. And I'm willing to bet that that man right across the street there would be more than willing to help you out with all of that."
Winn blushed and went back to dialing the numbers on her phone. "Just go back to calling your accounts," she said.
But deep down, she couldn't help but go over what Tina had just said to her.
"Winnie, we wouldn't be offering you this position if we didn't think you could do it."
Winifred Denise Douglas winced at the use of the nickname she hated. She blamed her parents for that. Sure, naming her after her grandmothers had been touching, and the nickname may have been cute for as long as she was in grade school--and even that felt like too long. But, no, it had to continue on into her adult life, too. Much to her relief, her friends had shortened her nickname to Winn back in middle school and she'd grown so accustomed to it that she now corrected everyone she met. Or simply introduced herself as Winn. Never Winnie. Never Winifred. Just Winn.
Too bad her employers preferred to call her what was printed out on her name plate.
"I understand this is a big deal for you," her district supervisor continued as she glanced at the state's VPO. "But it's also quite an opportunity for you, as well. We've watched you grow in this office for nearly ten years. You're the best in my district and, frankly, I would hate to see you go, but I can't let you miss out on this."
"Tulsa isn't so far away," the VPO said. "Just over the state line, at best."
"Six hours," Winn corrected.
"A plane ride."
"Tickets are expensive these days."
"You'll be getting a raise. And bonuses--"
"Provided I can get this office off the ground in long enough to make it home for the holidays. In six hours. Or a plane ride."
"Yes," the VPO said. "That office is in poor condition. But I believe you have what it takes to get it up and running again. Both of us do. And we wouldn't be sitting here with you if we didn't."
"But what happens if I don't? What happens if I fail miserably? Do I get stuck in Oklahoma? After I've uprooted my life and relocated?"
"Winnie, you work in the best office in the best district in the entire southwest region. You can do this," her supervisor said.
Winn let out a breath and looked at the man and woman in front of her.
"The company pays for your relocation," the VPO said. "From what I understand, Tulsa is a great area. You'll have your move paid for, you'll get a raise, your own office--you didn't want to be an assistant for the rest of your life, did you?"
Sadly, he had a point. Winn shook her head. "No."
"You're not married, you don't have any children. So what's stopping you? You've seen the salary figures. You've seen the numbers in the office--standards aren't unattainable in there. It just needs to be run by someone who knows what they're doing. And that someone is you."
******************
Early October was chillier in Tulsa than Winn had expected. It was too bad that she didn't actually have time to even focus on the weather. The new office was more of a nightmare than she thought it would be. Not only did they uproot and relocate her--oh, no. They'd also moved the entire office. Completely relocated the whole thing. Right before the company's "growth" season, they'd moved it from tucked into downtown to directly across the street from 3CG Records.
Winn knew her life was over.
Her bosses had relocated her because they knew she could do the job. What they DIDN'T know, however, was that this was like dangling a mouse in front of a lion's mouth--like dangling a toy in front of a cat's face and telling it it can't play with it. Or whatever other creative analogies she could come up with. Fate had dealt her a hand that sent her nerves soaring day after day.
She'd kept her composure when she found out the office's new location. It was bad enough she was relocating to Tulsa in the first place. Before making her big move, she'd squatted in the driveway at her old house in Abilene, Texas, feverishly scraping off her I Heart Hanson sticker off of her bumper, along with all the other Hanson-related decals that covered it. She didn't want to drive into Tulsa, letting people know she was one of the crazies. If she even had time to build up any type of reputation, that wouldn't be a good way to start.
Chasing was the worst so far. When you worked for a finance company that collected its own money, sometimes you had to pay the past due customers a personal visit at their homes. Unfortunately there were so many at this point, that she had to use her time creatively, darting out of the office whenever she could get the chance. Because her car was parked in the side alley, and it was quicker to get to it through the front door, her heart pounded every time she stepped outside. It had been three weeks now, since she'd relocated and settled in the new office, and she had yet to have a Hanson sighting. Surprisingly, she was grateful for that. Work was too busy and too hectic for such a distraction. It didn't help that the huge windows at the front of the office provided the most perfect of views from every desk in the office. Maybe they got in and out through their back door. Maybe that's what she ultimately should be doing, herself.
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Taylor Hanson had been watching her go in and out of that new place for the past several weeks. First Class Finance. Why in the hell would anyone put a finance company in the Brady Arts District? And why the hell did she look so familiar?
Then again, after awhile, everyone started to look familiar.
Either way, he and his brothers had been perplexed since it moved there, as to why a business like that would be put RIGHT THERE. It didn't make any sense. It was a district lined in coffee shops and restaurants and--well, hipsters, ultimately. Did Tulsa think hipsters needed more money now or something? "Here, if you want to shop in our store, go get a loan at First Class Finance. No problem." It was kind of ridiculous.
However, Taylor had stopped caring about the why's and how's the first time he'd seen her step outside that office door.
He'd watched her come back and forth all day, every day. Even sometimes on Saturdays. He watched her walk down the street, presumably for lunch, at the same time every day, never being gone long. Sadly, he was beginning to learn her routine and he didn't even know who she was.
And then he sat there one day and he thought about it. He'd been watching this woman for weeks--what the hell was he just sitting there for? Why wasn't he across the street introducing himself? What was he, some kind of peeping tom? No.
Before he could stop himself, he found himself walking across the street one late October afternoon. Halloween was approaching and the air just kept getting chillier in the evenings. Pulling his jacket a little closer around him, he stepped onto the curb and reached for the office door handle.
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Winn nearly fumbled the voicemail she was leaving when she witnessed Taylor Hanson walking in the door of her office. What in the hell could he possibly be doing there? They were a small lending company and he certainly didn't need money. Displaying the best customer service she could, knowing that there was really nothing she could do for him, she gave him a tight-lipped smile, greeted him, and then let the CSR handle the rest. Inside, Winn was dying and she could feel her hands shaking as she typed on her computer, struggling to keep her focus on her screen.
However, her ears remained open as she moved on to her next phone call. "Hi," she heard him say to Tina, the CSR. "I saw that you guys have been over here for a couple weeks now and I just wanted to stop by and meet you guys. You know, since we're neighbors now."
Difficult as it was, Winn resisted the urge to look up as she left another voicemail and moved on to the next phone call. "Well. Didn't realize you were Tulsa's official welcoming committee," Tina flirted at him.
In spite of herself, Winn shot daggers into her from across the room as she glanced at her.
"I wouldn't exactly say that," Taylor said. "We just like to get to know everyone around here, that's all."
"We?" Tina pressed.
"It's just me today," he responded.
The two assistant managers were out chasing and that only left Winn and Tina in the office by themselves. Winn knew that she couldn't stave off from talking to Taylor for long and, unfortunately, the time came quicker than she expected after he'd exchanged introductions with Tina.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him approach her desk cautiously and she finished the voicemail she was leaving and hung the phone up in defeat. He smiled at her, her heart fluttering a million miles away. "Hi," he said. "So you're the manager, huh?"
She smiled as best she could without completely fangirling. "That's me."
He studied her name plate for a moment. "Uh, Winnie, is it?"
She scowled as she went back to her computer. "Just Winn. I hate Winnie."
Much to her dismay, he took it upon himself to have a seat at her desk in one of the chairs meant for customers. He hadn't sat at Tina's desk. Why the hell was he sitting now? "There's nothing wrong with Winnie," he said. "It's nice."
"You haven't lived with it for thirty years."
"What's it short for? Winifred?"
She didn't realize she was glaring at him until he smiled at her again. "It is, isn't it?"
"Just forget you even know that."
"Too late now."
Sighing, and anxious to get back to work, she said to him, "I appreciate you coming by, but I have a lot of work to get done--"
"Are you from Tulsa?" He asked, seemingly ignoring her attempt to get rid of him.
Shaken up by his interruption, she stuttered a little. "Uh, ye--no--uh, no. No, I've only been here for a few weeks."
"Really. What brings you here?"
"Relocated for work. Got a promotion. Here I am."
He nodded, understanding, as he fiddled with the business cards on her desk, subsequently shoving one into his jacket pocket. "Where did you relocate from?"
"Did you ask Tina all these questions?"
Taylor smiled sheepishly, her words obviously stinging him a little. "No. No, I didn't. Perhaps I should--"
"I don't need my CSR distracted," she said suddenly, remembering the way Tina had flirted with him. Why she felt possessive all of a sudden, she had no idea. "I'm from Texas. Abilene. This office needed fresh blood and I got relocated. My office was the best in my district and my district is the best in our region. I intend to do the same with this one. It's going to take long hours, hard work, and one hundred percent, full dedication, but it's going to happen."
Taylor was silent as he listened to her and then he smiled across the desk. "So you're gonna be a busy woman."
"I am a busy woman. I stay a busy woman."
He nodded. "I like that."
Winn thought she might throw up.
Taylor looked toward the front door then back at her. "So I noticed you're a member of the Chamber."
"Not my doing. We're a corporation, I just display whatever they tell me to display."
"You ever go to any meetings?"
"No. No time. No point, really."
"Hm," he said in thought. "Well, I go to the meetings."
"That's nice for you."
"Maybe one of these days you'll decide to go and I'll see you there."
"Don't count on it. Too much to do here."
Finally, Taylor let out a breath and he nodded. "Okay. I get it. I'll get out of your hair, I know you have a lot of work to do. I'll, uh, I'll just be across the street..." As he stood up to leave, he turned back to her desk. "Hey, I never formally introduced myself--"
"I know who you are," she said, her eyes darting firmly into his.
He narrowed his eyes at her and turned completely around to face her. "Don't I know you?"
Finally, she sighed and she gave in, turning in her chair and resting her arms on the desk. "I came to Hanson Day back in May." She pointed out the window and across the street. "Right over there, you collided into me and caused me to spill my coffee all over the both of us. Most humiliating day of my life."
Suddenly, Taylor's face lit up and he smiled. "Oh my god, you're right! I knew you looked familiar. Look, I'm so sorry about that morning. I think I still owe you coffee, don't I?"
She shook her head. "Don't even worry about it. It's done and over with. You're forgiven."
He blushed and ran a hand through his hair. "Well, uh, thanks. I guess. I'm gonna be going now. You ladies have a good rest of the day, okay?"
With that, Taylor Hanson walked out of her office.
Winn wanted to fall out into the floor.
Abruptly, Tina spun around in her desk chair and tore the headset off her head. "Winn! What the hell was that?"
Winn looked across the room at her in alarm. "What the hell was what?"
"He LIKES you!" She hissed.
Winn lifted her head defiantly and picked up her phone again. "He doesn't like me, he's just being nice. Besides if he liked me, he would have asked for my number and asked me OUT for that coffee that he owes me."
"Are you crazy? What part of 'I still owe you coffee' was so difficult to understand? He DID ask you out! And you ignored it!"
Winn scrunched up her nose in guilt. "He didn't--I mean, I didn't--"
"Winn, I know you're new here. But you can't go home alone every single night and live just to come to work the next day. This office needs help. And you're doing a great job and we all appreciate you being here. But when you leave this office, you need to get out. Explore. Get to know the city. And I'm willing to bet that that man right across the street there would be more than willing to help you out with all of that."
Winn blushed and went back to dialing the numbers on her phone. "Just go back to calling your accounts," she said.
But deep down, she couldn't help but go over what Tina had just said to her.